We won't, of course, start to get a true picture of where we stand in this latest incarnation of Formula 1 until Saturday, March 25, when qualifying gets under way in Melbourne - and even then, given the particularities of Albert Park, the shape of the season to come may not be definitive.

Although it is never wise to set great store by the first test session of a season - not least because we don't know who was running how much fuel when - the opening week at Barcelona did seem to present certain fundamental truths, few of them unexpected.

Unsightly bargeboards and the like are back in force, and with great swathes of increased downforce, the cars are indeed significantly quicker than those of the recent past, with Mercedes yet again at the top of the pile. This, Lewis Hamilton said, was the fastest car he had ever driven.

The fresh hell facing Alonso's futureWith McLaren taking Renault engines and Honda heading elsewhere, Woking looks a better short-term prospect for Fernando Alonso after all. But his choice is not that simple1505347200F1

The farce F1 desperately needs to addressOnly one driver started the Italian Grand Prix from the position he qualified. Formula 1 must act now to address the farce that is the current grid penalties system1504742400F1

F1's big 2017 weakness is exposed againFormula 1's flawed move to bigger tyres and more downforce was more exposed than ever at Spa, where its lack of 'edge' compared starkly to MotoGP at Silverstone1504137600F1

Will Renault beat Red Bull in 2018?Having signed Carlos Sainz Jr and made strides on track, is Renault on course for a big leap forward in 2018? Gary Anderson gives his view on this, and other topics including the hardest-working drivers he met in F11506384000F1

Why Vettel's title chance is down to 23 per centIt was obvious that Sebastian Vettel's Singapore Grand Prix startline disaster was a huge blow to his title hopes. Crunching the numbers shows just how dramatically he's gone from slight favourite to outsider1506384000F1

The winner that foretold F1's new eraStewart Williams takes a look at the first of the new-era Silver Arrows to hit its target - the W03, Mercedes' first winner ahead of its F1 domination1506297600F1

Why Jaguar has nowhere to hideJaguar's international motorsport comeback in Formula E was a huge story, but a disappointment on track - particularly at first. Now it has a year under its belt and a proven FE champion in the cockpit, it has to step up1506297600FE

Would Loeb be a mistake for Citroen?At first the idea of Sebastien Loeb returning to the Citroen World Rally Championship team seemed both implausible and ill-advised. Now, after his second test, it makes complete sense1506038400WRC

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